Lace-curtain-stretching tool



Sept. 9 1924.

, H. F. MORAN LAGE cuaum smmcnms 'rooz,

Filed March 6, 1922 9 .NVENTOR ATTO RN EY Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

HUGH F. MORAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOI$.

LACE-CURTAIN-STRETCHING TOOL.

Application filed March 6, 1922. Serial No. 541,410.

To all whom it may canoe-Wt:

Be it known that I, HUGH F. MORAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lace-Curtain-Stretching Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tool particularly designed for use in stretching lace curtains upon drying'frames or racks, and

an object of the invention is to provide a tool which will facilitate the attaching of lace curtains to drying racks and will permit the proper stretching of the curtain and positioning of parts thereof over the frame or rack carried pins without liability of sticking or pricking the fingers of the persons stretching the curtains, and also Without liability of tearing the curtain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool as specified which is simple in construction, durable, and may be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved tool.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the tool.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4- 1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of the curtain gripping jaws.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a modified form of the jaws.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan of a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the modified form illustrated in Fig. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawings the improved tool is preferably constructed of spring sheet metal bent intermediate its ends to provide substantially parallel lengths 1 and 2 which are connected by the bight portion 3 of the tool. The lengths 1 and 2 are curved transversely, along their hand grip portions 4 and 5, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings to facilitate gripping of the tool by the hands of the user, and the lengths are bent, as shown at 6 to provide angularly disposed portions 7 and 8 which serve to connect the hand grip portions 4 and 5 to the respective curtain engaging jaws 9 and 10 which are offset from their respective hand grip portions as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The curtain engaging jaws 9 and 10 are positioned for engagement one with the other to securely grip a lace curtain therebetween and if it is so desired these jaws may be curved transversely, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings so that the convex curvatureor side of the jaw 9 will engage I in the concave side of the jaw 10. The curtain engaging jaws 9 and 10 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 11 which are adapted to engage over the pins in a curtain stretching or supporting frame'to permit the mounting of a lace curtain upon said frame.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings the inner or under surfaces of the jaw 9 is shown roughened or serrated as at 12 to permit firm gripping engagement with a lace curtain.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings wherein a modified form of the invention is shown the 'aw 9' is shown as having a pad 12 or rub er,

cork, or analogous material cemented to its under surfaces to provide frictlonal engagement with the lace curtain.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings the gripping jaws 20 and 21 are curved longitudinally of the tool and both are split longi' tudinally to provide the slots 23 i for engagement over the pins on a curtain frame. The tongue 24 which is formed by the cutting of the slot 23 in the jaw 21 is bent upwardly and engages in the slot 23 in the jaw 20 and its free end is slightly bent as shown at 25 to prevent disconnection of the jaws 20 and 21 by the spreading spring. action of the tool thereby always maintaining the jaws 20 and 21 in proper curtain engaging positions.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be apparent that a lace curtain stretching tool has been provided which is not only simple in construction but by means of which the action of stretching lace curtains may be greatly facilitated and that by the provision of the slots 11, a portion of a lace curtain gripped between the jaws 9 and 10 may be passed over a pin carried by the frame and the jaws removed by longitudinal movement of the jaws off pricking the fingers of the person stretching the curtain.

It is, of course, to be understood that the invention may be constructed in other manners and the parts associated in other relations and, therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner except as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described my invention What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a ourtain stretching tool formed of a single piece of metal bent to provide substantially parallel lengths having its intermediate portion forming a resilient connect-ion between said lengths, the major portion of said lengths providing hand grips, engaging jaws curved transversely, and angularly disposed portions connecting said jaws and hand grips, said angularly disposed portions being disposed in an inclined plane.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a curtain stretching tool formed of a single piece of metal bent to provide substantially parallel lengths, the intermediate port-ion of said piece forming a resilient connection between the lengths, the major portions of said lengths providing hand grips, each of said hand grips being curved transversely in opposite directions, engaging aWs curved transversely and having longitudinally extending slots opening: the outer ends thereof, and angularly disposed portions connecting said angularly disposed portions being arranged substantially parallel.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature G-n F. Mortar. 

